While many students, parents, and schools are currently focused on the 2026-27 FAFSA, the Department of Education is looking ahead to next year’s FAFSA to prepare for its launch on October 1, 2026.
The Department of Education recently announced the availability of the 2027-28 FAFSA materials for public comment, a process that occurs for all federal forms.
In a February 13 press release, the Department stated that, as part of their commitment to invest in the FAFSA, the 2027-28 FAFSA will include the following enhancements:
- Ease of Renewal: Students’ data will be pre-populated from previous FAFSA forms, allowing for a much faster experience for returning students.
- Clearer Language: Questions and instructions have been rewritten to remove confusing jargon and help students and families better understand what is being asked.
- Family-Friendly: Parents with multiple children applying for Federal student aid will be able to reuse their information across all applications instead of being required to reenter it for every child.
Comments on the 2027-28 FAFSA form can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
